Maximising cattle growth through efficient use of autumn grass

September is often still a great month to grow your sheep or beef cattle on pasture grass. By smart grazing, you get the most out of it, resulting in a significant gain in meat. A high feed intake with a high share of protein is crucial here.

Autumn grass contains a lot of protein, this is because mineralisation in the soil is then running at full speed. Due to wet weather conditions, keeping the grass tasty can be a challenge.

In this article, you will read how to get the most out of autumn grass.

Optimal growth of beef cattle with autumn grass by strip grazing

To make good use of the protein-rich grass, palatability is important. In wet weather, it is therefore wise to switch to strip grazing. In this way, the animals eat the new strip in a short time and it is less likely to be soiled by manure and mud.

In this way, the declining grass growth can be made the most of. Should the grass still have enough strength to grow back, the regrowth is also palatable and can be utilised once more! By working with tumble wheels, you make it easier for yourself to strip graze.

Optimal growth for a nice meat gain and good fertility in sheep

For sheep, the month of September is crucial. For breeding animals, feed intake has a major influence on fertility. It is important to maintain a good energy intake. You achieve this by offering a tasty pasture and giving them a new piece every 3 days.

For sheep kept for meat, the same applies as for beef cattle. However, applying strip grazing to sheep is more labour-intensive because multiple wires are used. Also, tumble wheels cannot be used. A reel post with several reels attached does offer a solution. Read more about this in the blog on mobile fences for sheep.

These products make it possible to provide a new piece every 3 days. This protects the regrowth of grass. This makes the regrowth palatable, so you can continue grazing for a long time. At least, weather permitting!

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How do I know if my animals are growing enough?

You walk through the meadow and notice that your cattle look good. But is growth also optimal? Or could you get more out of this? To be able to monitor whether the animals are indeed growing optimally, Gallagher recommends regular weighing.

This also gives you the opportunity to make adjustments. For instance, you can try increasing the strip of grass to challenge the animals to eat more. If growth is disappointing, it may be a reason to start supplementary feeding.

Tip: In addition to monitoring growth, a weigh scale can also help you recognise and identify animals.

Read more about weighing animals on our information page.

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